Home for the Holidays

We ventured off to Fisher and Peoria this weekend, with one goal in mind...not to get in a ditch. We made it safely to Fisher, the roads were cleared despite a drunk-driving accident that took the life of a young woman. So sad. We stayed with my parents and opened presents Friday night. Below is Avery opening her Elmo chair from Uncle Austin, who spent two weeks in every store between Peoria, Champaign and Jacksonville looking for the thing. He found it Friday morning.

Then we headed to the Reindeer Ranch on Saturday. It was cold, but the reindeer were people-friendly and we fed them graham crackers. It was hilarious. After that, we headed to Peoria, where we had another round of gift exchanges, and Avery also got a basketball hoop...

Now we're back home...and sick. Avery already had an ear infection, and my mother-in-law had laryngitis and didn't tell us. I'm a little mad about that one, but what would I do? I wasn't canceling for ANYTHING...even an ice storm. We had fun, but now it's time to celebrate our Christmas. (This also makes my MIL mad, but too bad...It's time to start our own traditions.) We'll be drinking hot chocolate and watching "A Christmas Story" before Avery heads to bed. After that, Bryon and I will watch "A Christmas Carol," and doze off. I really want to go to a Christmas Eve service in town, but Bryon is against that. Maybe next year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!